In this paper we present a photogrammetry-based approach for deep-sea underwater surveys conducted from a submarine and guided by knowledge-representation combined with a logical approach (ontology). Two major issues are discussed in this paper. The first concerns deep-sea surveys using photogrammetry from a submarine. Here the goal was to obtain a set of images that completely covered the selected site. Subsequently and based on these images, a low-resolution 3D model is obtained in real-time, followed by a very high-resolution model produced back in the laboratory. The second issue involves the extraction of known artefacts present on the site. This aspect of the research is based on an a priori representation of the knowledge involved using systematic reasoning. Two parallel processes were developed to represent the photogrammetric process used for surveying as well as for identifying archaeological artefacts visible on the sea floor. Mapping involved the use of the CIDOC-CRM system (International Committee for Documentation (CIDOC)—Conceptual Reference Model)—This is a system that has been previously utilised to in the heritage sector and is largely available to the established scientific community. The proposed theoretical representation is based on procedural attachment; moreover, a strong link is maintained between the ontological description of the modelled concepts and the Java programming language which permitted 3D structure estimation and modelling based on a set of oriented images. A very recently discovered shipwreck acted as a testing ground for this project; the Xelendi Phoenician shipwreck, found off the Maltese coast, is probably the oldest known shipwreck in the western Mediterranean. The approach presented in this paper was developed in the scope of the GROPLAN project (Généralisation du Relevé, avec Ontologies et Photogrammétrie, pour l'Archéologie Navale et Sous-marine). Financed by the French National Research Agency (ANR) for four years, this project associates two French research laboratories, an industrial partner, the University of Malta, and Texas A & M University.

This article describes the set of photogrammetric tools developed for the monitoring of Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum populations. The description encompasses the full processing chain: from the image acquisition to the information extraction and data interpretation. The methods applied take advantage of existing tools and new, innovative and specific developments in order to acquire data on relevant ecological information concerning the structure and functioning of a red coral population. The tools presented here are based on: (i) automatic orientation using coded quadrats; (ii) use of non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) and 3D skeletonization techniques; (iii) computation of distances between colonies from a same site; and (iv) the use of a plenoptic approach in an underwater environment.

The development of close-range photogrammetry has produced a lot of new possibility to study cultural heritage. 3D data acquired with conventional and low cost cameras can be used to document, investigate the full appearance, materials and conservation status, to help the restoration process and identify intervention priorities. At the same time, with 3D survey a lot of three-dimensional data are collected and analyzed by researchers, but there are a very few possibility of 3D output. The augmented reality is one of this possible output with a very low cost technology but a very interesting result. Using simple mobile technology (for iPad and Android Tablets) and shareware software (in the case presented “Augment”) it is possible to share and visualize a large number of 3D models with your own device. The case study presented is a part of an architecture graduate thesis, made in Rome at Department of Architecture of Roma Tre University. We have developed a photogrammetric survey to study the Aurelian Wall at Castra Praetoria in Rome. The surveys of 8000 square meters of surface have allowed to identify stratigraphy and construction phases of a complex portion of Aurelian Wall, specially about the Northern door of Castra. During this study, the data coming out of 3D survey (photogrammetric and topographic), are stored and used to create a reverse 3D model, or virtual reconstruction, of the Northern door of Castra. This virtual reconstruction shows the door in the Tiberian period, nowadays it's totally hidden by a curtain wall but, little and significative architectural details allow to know its original feature. The 3D model of the ancient walls has been mapped with the exact type of bricks and mortar, oriented and scaled according to the existing one to use augmented reality. Finally, two kind of application have been developed, one on site, were you can see superimposed the virtual reconstruction on the existing walls using the image recognition. On the other hand, to show the results also during the graduation day, the same application has been created in off-site condition using a poster.

Exploration, documentation and mapping of underwater environment is one of the biggest open challenges for science and engineering. Humankind is not naturally designed to operate in water and, despite the enormous technological advancement that offers nowadays unprecedented opportunities, diving and working underwater is still very dangerous, especially in confined spaces such as underwater caves. Great research efforts are currently devoted to underwater autonomous navigation, but available solutions still mainly rely on complex and expensive systems, due to the difficulty of adapting localization and mapping sensors and algorithms suited for terrestrial or aerial applications. However, small and affordable underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are available, which offer good opportunities for underwater exploration and mapping. This paper focuses on the development of a small, low-cost ROV designed for 3D mapping of underwater environments, like caves. The system is based on a commercially available vehicle, the BluRov2, and relies on the use of up to 12 action cameras (GoPro) mounted on it. A trifocal camera system for underwater real-time visual odometry can also be included. The work describes the photogrammetric procedure developed for the synchronization and calibration of the GoPro cameras and provides a thorough analysis on the achievable results.

We provide an overview of recent results obtained by the innovative application of mobile spectroscopy for in situ investigation in archaeometry. Its growing relevance is linked to the great advantages of avoiding the transport and eventual damage of precious artifacts and of allowing the analysis of those specimens that are, for example, built into infrastructures or in some way permanently affixed. In this context, some case studies of combined instrumental approaches, involving X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy, integrated by infrared thermography (IRT), are, in particular, discussed: the archaeological site of Scifì (Forza d’Agrò, province of Messina, Italy) and the Abbey of SS. Pietro e Paolo d’Agrò (Casalvecchio Siculo, province of Messina, Italy). In the first case, the elemental composition, as obtained by XRF, of two types of mortars belonging to two different chronological phases, dated back between the 3rd and the 5th century AD, allowed us to hypothesize a same origin area of their raw materials and a different production technique. Again, the combined use of XRF and Raman spectroscopies, supported by IRT technique, on pottery fragments of Greek-Hellenistic age and late imperial period, furnished important information concerning the receipts for the pigmenting agents of the finishing layer, allowing in some cases their unambiguous identification. In the second case, XRF data collected on bricks and stones from the external facade of the abbey allowed us to make some hypothesis concerning the provenance of their constituents materials, supposed to be in the area of valley of the river Agrò.

In recent years, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technologies, which take full advantage of both real-time kinematic (RTK) and precise point positioning (PPP), managed to reach centimeter-level positioning accuracy with ambiguity resolution (AR) quick convergence techniques. One great advantage over traditional structural health monitoring (SHM) systems is that GNSS technologies will be functional in disaster management situations, when terrestrial communication links become unavailable. In this study, a multi-GNSS system, based on GPS and Galileo constellations and exploiting advanced RTK and PPP-AR technologies with update rate of 100 Hz is tested on two benchmark structures as an SHM system. The first case study served as a baseline to outline the methodology: first, a setup phase of the instrumentation, then a signal processing phase and last, the validation of the results. The methodology was then applied to a real-case scenario, in which the GNSS was tested on a road bridge. A comparative analysis with the results acquired by a set of accelerometers showed that the GNSS was able to identify the crossing of heavy vehicles. The work is paving the way for the development of an affordable and efficient multi-GNSS-based tool for the monitoring of civil infrastructures.